Self-stabilizing aeroplane.



F. C. WRIGHT.

SEILF STABILIZING AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24. I917. 1,250,749. Patented Dec.1'8, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. C. WRIGHT. SELF STABILI ZING AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,19l7. 1,250,749. Patented Dec. 18,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I manna I! FREDERICK G. WRIGHT, OF HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA.

SELF-STABILIZING AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

Application filed July 24, 1917. Serial No. 182,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. WRIGHT, a subject of the King of England, residing at Halifax, in the Province of Nova Scotia and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Stabilizing Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends generally improvements in aeronautics. and more particularly relates to a self-stabilizing aeroplane.

It is the primary aim and object of this invention to provide a device of the above character wherein the body is designed at all times remain in an upright position,

- while in flight, to enable the observer or pilot to use to advantage his steady position for accurate aiming of the gun on the body when disposing of an enemy.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a device of the character described wherein improved means have been employed for suspending the body or car beneath the upper plane so that regardless of the angle of disposition of the planes during their course of flight the body will at all times remain in an upright position.

As a further improvement this invention resides in the provision of a device of the character mentioned wherein the body or car is of novel construction which permits of the body always remaining in a steady upright position during flight.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide improved cooperative hearing means carried by the body or the car and the suspension cables from the planes for assuring of an effective supporting of the body.

Among the other aims and objects of this invention may be recited a device of the character described with a view to compact,

ness, and in which the number of parts are few, the construction simple, the cost ofproduction low and the efliciency high. o

Other improvements and novel details 1n the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow, which for a clear understanding of the invention should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed for the purpose of illustration a convenient and sat sfactory embodiment of the invention. It 1s to be noted in this connection that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the principle of operation of the various parts.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which t Figure 1 is an end elevation of the inven- 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the body showing the cooperative bearing members in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken through the body and the cooperating members on the body;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the cooperative bearing members.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to lndicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings, there is provided an aeroplane consisting generally of a frame 1 having an upper plane 2 and a lower plane 3 connected thereto. Supporting wheels 4 are provided and are connected to an axle 5 operably mounted in the frame 1, this arrangement serving to support the aeroplane when the device is on the ground. An improved body 6 is now connected to the frame so as to be maintained in an upright position at all times.

The improved body in the present instance constitutes the carrier or car and is of cylindrical formation in cross section being pointed at its forward end as indicated by the numeral 7 and reduced to provide a platform 8 for a purpose that will presently appear. Between the platform and the upper portion of the body is an opening 9 which permits of access to the interior of the body. A suitable gun 10 of any conventional character preferably of the magazine ty e is mounted on the platform.

vit h a view toward providingimproved means for operably connecting the body to the frame so that the body will at all times remain in an upright position regardless of of a supporting the angular disposition of the planes during flight, a plurality of coiiperative bearing members are mounted. In the present instance each set of bearing members consists ring 11 composed of two semi-circular sections 12 which are disposed about the outer surface of the body and secured thereto through the instrumentality of suitable fastening devices 13. These sections are provided at uniformly spaced. in tervals with recesses 14 in which are mounted cups 15 for receiving ball bearings 16. An inner ring indicated in, its entirety by the numeral 17 is now employed and desirably consists of a pair of semi-circular sections 18 having its inner surface provided with a recess 19 to form a circumferential shoulder 20. The sections 18 of the inner ring 17 are arranged about the ball bearing supporting ring 11 so that the latter is positioned within the recess 19. Suitable flanges 21 project from the, outer side edge of the sections 18 at their meeting ends and are engaged by a nut and bolt arrangement 22 for clamping the inner ring in position. An outer ring indicated in its entirety by the numeral 23 is now employed and like the first two rings is constructed in two semicircular seotions 24. The sections of the ring 23 are recessed on the inner surfaces as at 25 forming-arcuate shoulders 26 to permit of the outer ring being arranged about the inner-ring 25 while the shoulders 26 are arranged adjacent the opposite side edge of the inner ring 11. Ears or flanges 28 project outwardly from the sections 24 adjacent the meeting ends and are engaged by suitable nut and bolt arrangement 29 for clamping the outer ring in position. In addition suitable fastening devices such as screw bolts 30 are extended through the shoulders and are engaged in the adjacent edge of the sections of the inner ring 17 as indicated. Upon reference to Fig. 5 it is to be observed that when the inner and outer rings are in position they form an annular groove for accommodating the inner ring 11 and in efiect provide ball races since the ball bearings 16 are held in cups and cooperate with the inner surface or recessed portion 19 of the inner ring. Each set of the cooperative bearing members or rings are arranged at uniformly spaced intervals on the outer surface of the body as indicated, and in suspending the body within the frame between the two planes a plurality of ears 31 are formed on the outer surfaces of the outer.

rings 23 atsuitably spaced intervals and are engaged by suspension cables 32 the opposite ends of which are connected to the upper and lower side portions and frame 1 so as to consequently maintain the rings in a substantially rigid position as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. In this connection it will be. observed that the weight 33 formed on the inner surface of the body and longitudinally of the lower portion thereof serves as a means for balancing the body and even should the planes 2 and 3 tilt in either direction, owing to the weighted lower portion of the body, the latter will partially rotate in the grooves provided in the inner and outer rings and by reason of the fact that the body is thus maintained at all times n an upright position the pilot or observer is enabled to use the steady position of the body to advantage inaiming and firing the gun 10.

It is believed in view of the foregoing description that a further detailed description of the operation of the invention is entirely unnecessary. Likewise it is thought that the advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and it is intended that all matter contained in the above descriptlon or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention and all statelnents of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described this invention, what'is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters-Patent, is

1. A device of the character described including a frame, planes connected thereto, a body disposed wlthin the frame and of a cylindrical formation, and serving as a car, a weight extending longitudinally of the body interiorly thereof, a plurality of ball bearing supporting rings carried at uni formly spaced intervals upon the outer surface of the body, a plurality of pairs of inner and outer flanged rings secured to each other in overlapping relation to form a groove and arranged about the adjacent ball bearing rings for partially and rotatably supporting the body, and means for holding the outer rings rigid within the frame.

2. A device of the character described ineluding a main supporting frame, planes connected thereto, a body disposed within the frame and of a cylindrical formation, a weight carried longitudinally of the body, a plurality of rings arranged at uniformly spaced intervals on the outer surface of the body and formed of semi-circular sections, means for securing the sections to the body, a plurality of cups carried by the sections of the ring, ball bearings mounted in the frame and engaged with the outer rings so cups, inner andouter rings each formed in as to support the latter in substantially sections secured to each other and forming a rigid position with respect to the frame and 10 groove for accommodating the adjacent rings assuring of a partially rotatably supporting 5 on the body, means for securing the inner of the body within the inner and outer rings. and outer rings in engagement with each In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. other, a plurality of cables carried by the FREDERICK C. WRIGHT. 

